Vehicle passenger detection system and method

Abstract

A method and system for image processing of an image captured by an image-capturing device, can involve dividing a region of interest in an image into blocks, wherein the image is captured by an image-capturing device. The region of interest can be associated with one or more faces in the image, and a resulting division of the dividing of the region of interest may be non-uniform. A minimum block size can be defined and the coordinates of each block after dividing of the region of interest in the image into the blocks. The one or more faces in the image can be redacted and reconstructed using the coordinates. In addition, redacting and reconstructing of the image is reversible for use with detecting the one or more faces in the image. The coordinates can specify top left coordinates and bottom right coordinates of each block.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for image processing of an image captured by an image-capturing device, comprising:
 dividing a region of interest in an image into a plurality of blocks, wherein the image is captured by an image-capturing device, and the region of interest is associated with at least one face in the image, and wherein a resulting division of the dividing of the region of interest is non-uniform; 
 defining a minimum block size with respect to the each block and a plurality of coordinates of the each block after the dividing of the region of interest in the image in the plurality of blocks; and 
 redacting and reconstructing the at least one face in the image using the plurality of coordinates, wherein the redacting and reconstructing of the image is reversible for a redaction and a reconstruction of the image for detecting the at least one face in the image. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of coordinates specifies top left coordinates and bottom right coordinates of the each block. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1  further comprising scrambling each block among the plurality of blocks prior to the defining of the minimum block size. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1  wherein the region of interest comprises an output from a face detector. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1  wherein redacting and reconstructing the at least one face in the image using the plurality of coordinates, further comprises:
 processing a first routine for redacting the at least one face in the image to generate a redaction of the at least one face in the image. 
 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 5  wherein redacting and reconstructing the at least one face in the image using the plurality of coordinates, further comprises:
 processing a second routine for reversing the redaction and reconstructing an original image of the image. 
 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1  wherein redacting and reconstructing the at least one face in the image using the plurality of coordinates, further comprises:
 processing a first routine for redacting the at least one face in the image to generate a redaction of the at least one face in the image; and 
 processing a second routine for reversing the redaction and reconstructing an original image of the image. 
 
     
     
       8. A system for image processing of an image captured by an image-capturing device, comprising:
 at least one processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions to cause the at least one processor to perform:
 dividing a region of interest in an image into a plurality of blocks, wherein the image is captured by an image-capturing device, and the region of interest is associated with at least one face in the image, and wherein a resulting division of the dividing of the region of interest is non-uniform; 
 defining a minimum block size with respect to the each block and a plurality of coordinates of the each block after the dividing of the region of interest in the image in the plurality of blocks; and 
 redacting and reconstructing the at least one face in the image using the plurality of coordinates, wherein the redacting and reconstructing of the image is reversible for a redaction and a reconstruction of the image for the at least one face detected in the image. 
 
 
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 8  wherein the plurality of coordinates specifies top left coordinates and bottom right coordinates of the each block. 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 8  wherein the instructions further comprise instructions configured for scrambling each block among the plurality of blocks prior to the defining of the minimum block size. 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 8  wherein the region of interest comprises an output from a face detector. 
     
     
       12. The system of  claim 8  wherein the instructions for redacting and reconstructing the at least one face in the image using the plurality of coordinates, further comprise instructions configured for:
 processing a first routine for redacting the at least one face in the image to generate a redaction of the at least one face in the image. 
 
     
     
       13. The system of  claim 12  wherein the instructions for redacting and reconstructing the at least one face in the image using the plurality of coordinates, further comprise instructions configured for:
 processing a second routine for reversing the redaction and reconstructing an original image of the image. 
 
     
     
       14. The system of  claim 8  wherein the instructions for redacting and reconstructing the at least one face in the image using the plurality of coordinates, further comprise instructions configured for:
 processing a first routine for redacting the at least one face in the image to generate a redaction of the at least one face in the image; and 
 processing a second routine for reversing the redaction and reconstructing an original image of the image. 
 
     
     
       15. A system for image processing of an image captured by an image-capturing device, comprising:
 an image-capturing device wherein a region of interest in an image captured by the image-capturing device is divided into a plurality of blocks, wherein the region of interest is associated with at least one face in the image, and wherein a resulting division of the dividing of the region of interest is non-uniform; and 
 a face detector associated with the image-capturing device, wherein the region of interest comprises an output from the face detector, wherein a minimum block size is defined with respect to the each block and a plurality of coordinates of the each block after the dividing of the region of interest in the image in the plurality of blocks, and wherein the at least one face in the image is redactable and reconstructable using the plurality of coordinates, wherein redacting and reconstructing of the image is reversible for detecting the at least one face in the image. 
 
     
     
       16. The system of  claim 15  wherein the plurality of coordinates specifies top left coordinates and bottom right coordinates of the each block. 
     
     
       17. The system of  claim 15  wherein each block among the plurality of blocks is scrambled after the defining of the minimum block size. 
     
     
       18. The system of  claim 15  wherein a first routine is processed for redacting the at least one face in the image to generate a redaction of the at least one face in the image. 
     
     
       19. The system of  claim 18  wherein a second routine is processed for reversing the redaction and reconstructing an original image of the image. 
     
     
       20. The system of  claim 15  wherein:
 a first routine is processed for redacting the at least one face in the image to generate a redaction of the at least one face in the image; and 
 a second routine is processed for reversing the redaction and reconstructing an original image of the image.